---
born: 1911-08-31
category: Organized Crime
died: 1998-04-22
location: Haarlem, Netherlands
summary: Edward Brongersma was a Dutch Senator and prominent advocate for the legalization
  of pedophilia in the Netherlands.
tags:
- Person
- OrganizedCrime
updated: 2026-09-22
---

Edward Brongersma was a Dutch Senator and prominent advocate for the legalization of pedophilia in the Netherlands. He served as a senior member of the Dutch Senate's Judiciary Committee, a position that provided him with significant influence over legislative matters related to child protection and sexual offenses. His political connections and legal expertise made him a valuable associate for international child exploitation networks operating in Europe.[^1]

On September 18, 1976, [Francis Shelden](/people/francis-shelden/), the Michigan millionaire who owned [North Fox Island](/places/north-fox-island/) and was later sought by the [FBI](/organizations/federal-bureau-of-investigation/) under a fugitive warrant, placed securities he valued at about two million dollars in a revocable trust with the Trust Company of the Virgin Islands, Ltd., founded by [Adam Starchild](/people/adam-starchild/). When Starchild failed to account for the 1977 dividends, Shelden, advised by a Dutch tax lawyer, Antoon Kasdorp, removed the trust company by a document notarized in Amsterdam on April 13, 1978, and named Brongersma first successor trustee; Brongersma accepted the same day. Shelden testified in deposition that Brongersma had for many years been "a Senator, a Dutch equivalent," and described his legal career. Brongersma was a named defendant in the resulting interpleader litigation in the [United States](/places/united-states/), and his affidavit was part of the record.[^2]

Brongersma's role as trustee of Shelden's estate provided the American fugitive with a political connection that facilitated his rapid acquisition of Dutch citizenship. This arrangement allowed Shelden to establish himself in Amsterdam and continue his operations through [PAN Magazine](/organizations/pan-magazine/) magazine and [Spartacus International](/organizations/spartacus-international/). Brongersma's position within the Dutch political establishment shielded these activities from thorough scrutiny by law enforcement.[^1]

Brongersma's connections extended to other figures in the European pedophile network. He was associated with Fritz Bernard, a psychologist and contributor to Shelden's PAN magazine, and with [Joseph Douce](/people/joseph-douce/), a pastor who maintained contact with Dutch specialists in pedophilia issues. Douce had sent contact details of Brongersma and Bernard to representatives of Protestant Churches in Belgium who were concerned about Douce's activities. These connections placed Brongersma at the center of a network that linked political figures, academics, and religious leaders to organized child exploitation.[^1]

[^1]: Dovey, S. *Eye of the Chickenhawk.* Thehotstar, 2023. Sole source for the passages so cited.
[^2]: *National Bank of Detroit v. Shelden,* 730 F.2d 421 (6th Cir. 1984). https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/433085/national-bank-of-detroit-v-francis-d-shelden-the-trust-company-of-the/